This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Alvarez will not make his spring debut until "a little bit later" due to normal buildup, per manager Joe Espada, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Carlos Correa and Christian Walker are slated to make their debuts Thursday, with Jose Altuve debuting Friday and Alvarez debuting sometime after that. Alvarez is discounted in fantasy drafts this year due to his injury issues in 2025, so it will be worth tracking how long his spring debut is delayed.
... See More... See Less
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Clear of ankle pain
Rotowire
Alvarez (ankle) reported to spring training Sunday and announced that his is pain-free, Houston Chronicle reports.
The 28-year-old dealt with a left ankle sprain late last year and dealt with some inflammation early in the offseason, but it appears he's entering spring training at 100 percent. Alvarez was limited to 48 games due to the ankle issue and a hand fracture, with his .273/.367/.430 slash line representing career lows in average and slugging percentage. The injury-plagued season ended a run of four straight 30-homer campaigns for the slugger, who is a popular rebound candidate in 2026. Alvarez is expected to see most of his action at designated hitter this season after making just 15 appearances in left field in 2025.
Astros' Yordan Alvarez: Slated for designated hitter duty
Rotowire
Astros manager Joe Espada said Monday that he would like Alvarez (ankle) to "spend most of his season" at designated hitter, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Alvarez started 32 games at DH and 15 in left field during his injury-shortened 2025 campaign, and Houston wants to limit his time in the field in hopes that it will help keep him healthy. While it makes sense for the Astros to do everything they can to keep Alvarez's bat in the lineup, it makes for a difficult lineup construction for Espada, especially when it comes to where Isaac Paredes (hamstring) slots in. Alvarez's 2025 season ended prematurely due to a severe left ankle sprain, but general manager Dana Brown said Monday that the slugger will be ready to go for the start of spring training.
